Leather & Lark: The Ruinous Love Trilogy

When I told my husband that I was reading a serial k!ller romance, he gave me a side eye. When I started cackling while listening to the audiobook, I think he was a little bit concerned, lol. But the truth is that this series is kinda hysterical, even though it’s dark and gruesome in other ways. Weaver has such a skill for balancing the dark and the swoony, making me love these twisted characters. This one is a new spin on the beloved marriage of convenience trope, bringing together a “multiple deleter” and a contract k!ller. It’s also a best friend’s brother-in-law romance, with a banter-filled meet cute, tons of chemistry, and a boy obsessed. I loved the slow burn and how absolutely adorable the (anti)hero was - he was so completely gone for his girl. He knows he needs to put in the work to win over his wife after their disastrous first meeting, and he doesn’t hesitate to do so. The writing is just immensely bingeable, entertaining, and fun - I devoured this in a single day, and there was certainly never a dull moment. I loved it! I think it goes without saying that there are some dark, potentially triggering elements to the series, but even more so with this installment. The story follows Lark, a woman whose experience with SA has shaped her into the woman she is today. Namely, that she hunts down sexual predators and makes sure they can never hurt anyone again - taking matters into her own hands. You’d never know by looking at Lark that such darkness lives inside her, which is why her first interaction with Lachlan goes so awry. He sees a pretty, sunshine, self-absorbed girl who doesn’t have a care in the world, and he couldn’t be more wrong. So when Lachlan discovers that Lark is his brother’s fiancée’s best friend, it’s a shock to the system. And when Lark realizes that she needs to marry Lachlan in order to keep her friends safe, it’s sure to change the dynamic of their relationship. I remember having so much fun reading Butcher & Blackbird back when it first released, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series. I love that the books truly feel one-of-a-kind, with a great mix of dark and comedic elements, as well as plenty of heat. I liked Lark quite a bit and how she gave as good as she got, but it’s truly the smitten Lachlan who steals the show here. He quickly realizes the error of his ways, and I loved watching him try to navigate unfamiliar territory. If I have one complaint, it’d be that I wanted to spend more time with the characters without days or weeks passing in between interactions. But maybe I’m just greedy - it’s really that I wanted even more time with these characters. The slow burn was perfect for them, and things did get pretty spicy towards the end. Maybe not my preferred type of spice, but it fit the couple and enhanced the relationship in its own way. All in all, I had a fantastic time - and now I cannot wait for the final book in the series. Audio note: Highly, highly recommended in audio! If you’re the type of reader who has never understood the appeal of audiobooks, this is the perfect one to try. It’s a true performance, told in duet-style. Samantha Brentmoor’s crisp, clear voice is exceedingly easy to listen to, and she even does some singing, which was great. Eric Nolan is new-to-me, but I would definitely seek him out in the future. He brings Lachlan’s Irish swoon and swagger to life, with a gruff and grumbly voice that was perfection. The runtime (12 hours) meant it was a full day binge, but it did not drag at all. Not sure I’d recommend listening at work, but there’s minimal spice in the first half. So glad I was able to listen to this one, it was an experience for sure.

So Butcher & Blackbird should be read before Leather & Lark. Lachlan Kane is ready to retire from contract killing, to having a quiet life in his leather shop. But when his boss sends him on a job meeting a woman who is a walking catastrophe - Lachlan's grumpy attitude gets the best of him. And screwing up that job means his boss will never get his claws out of him. Not until Lark Montague offers him a deal. Lark is sunshine and glitter, but she has dark secrets hiding beneath her bright exterior. So when her loved ones are threatened - she makes a hard decision. They may not be able to stand one another, but they are getting married in hopes to help them both. They must both navigate the dark world where they are bound together, it becomes impossible to distinguish their fake marriage for a real one. But negotiating their newfound marriage isn't the only challenge they have to face, when danger comes knocking. So, I loved Butcher & Blackbird, and couldn't wait to get a hold of Leather and Lark. I needed this book - thanks to that little teasing chapter in B&B. Plus, I love grumpy/sunshine & marriage of convenience so I was dying to see how this played out. Dark romances are my jam, & I loved how B&B was a dark rom-com. And while this also falls under the dark rom-com category... I wouldn't really call it dark. It was a bit slower paced, and had a lot of fluff to it, with just little crumbs of things making me want to read more. There wasn't as much danger and suspense as I would have hoped given the circumstances, and when we got it, it felt a bit rushed. And some of the relationship felt less "show" and more "tell". (Not all, there was some parts that SHOWED it too, but there were some parts where we were TOLD what happened with the characters). It did have great banter, great side characters, & some steamy scenes within. It was overall a good read. I loved the characters and their relationship. I loved the slow burn and tension. And overall enjoyed the story. & I'm excited for the next book in the series! 4⭐ out of 5⭐.

The second book in the Ruinous Loves series and it did not disappoint! It is murderous, an enemies to lovers story complete with all the humorous moments of Butcher and Blackbird. This is the story of Lachlan, the oldest of the Kane brothers, and his beautiful catastrophe Lark, best friend to Sloan. While their first meeting is contentious to say the least the attraction they have for each other is undeniable. Lark will do anything for the people she loves including presenting herself as whatever they want her to be and putting her heart on the line, much in the same way Lachlan does for his brothers. Lark, the glittery “multiple-deleter” that she is, finds that she does not have to keep her mask in place around Lachlan, creating a sense of relief as well as a disturbing uncertainty regarding her feelings. I think the crafty way in which Lark commemorates her deletions is an insightful commentary on how we feel the need to make even the dark, ugly parts, sparkly and more appealing than they are. Lachlan is my favorite of the Kane brothers. He loves deeply and never hesitates to do everything he can for those he loves. He is handsome and confident but around Lark sometimes he is a mess. His process of figuring her out is one of my favorite elements of this book. Both for the humor when his confidence wanes and in how he puts in such an effort to make things right and take care of Lark. The banter is everything! All the banter…between Rowan and Sloane, Fionn and Rose, the Kane brothers, and of course Lachlan and Lark! As with Butcher and Blackbird this is a dark romance that is the perfect “rom-com” for my dark little heart. A perfect balance between darkness, humor, and of course spice. I will recommend this book all day for those who like dark romance or are wanting to try or continue dipping their toe into this genre. Gold Star!

Read if you like: Romance Dark romance Fake marriage Enemies to lovers Dark humor My thoughts: Leather & Lark, the second installment in the Ruinous Love trilogy, is another dark romantic comedy that does a wonderful job blending humor, heart and, you know, serial killing. While not quite as good as Butcher & Blackbird, Brynne Weaver presents another fun read with this one. Lachlan and Lark are two characters that you can’t help but love. Lark is a little unhinged but in the best ways. She’s kind, funny, and talented while also being fierce, loyal, and a smart-ass. Lachlan does a wonderful job bringing out her smart-ass side. He’s a bit abrasive on the outside but a teddy bear inside. The two of them together had some amazing chemistry and the best witty banter. The spice was perfect. It wasn’t overdone and it wasn’t immediate. To be honest, the build up to it might have made it even better. I wouldn’t call this a slow burn but they definitely take their time. It was so worth it though. The plot was my only real issue. Nothing seemed to happen for the first 70% of the book and then, when things finally got going, they didn’t really make a ton of sense. There were some definite plot holes in this one that detracted a bit from my overall enjoyment of it. Overall, if you liked Butcher & Blackbird, I think you’ll find a lot of things to enjoy about Leather & Lark. Brynne Weaver is making a solid name for herself in the darkly funny romance genre. TL;DR I didn’t love this one as much as Butcher & Blackbird but it was still quite a fun read. Brynne Weaver has a wonderfully dark sense of humor. It’s a slow burn but has great spice and chemistry. The banter was on point. My only issues were that the pacing dragged a bit and the plot didn’t make a ton of sense.

Really REALLY dislike the male narrator. He's terrible at doing voices in my opinion, and his British voice was very cheesy and cartoonish. It was distracting. But the story was good. Better than the first.

Leather & Lark By Brynne Weaver If you weren’t already knocked out of the park by Butcher & Blackbird, the first of this series, then you definitely will be with book two. Where Butcher & Blackbird jumps right into serial killers killing bad serial killers in a unique way and finding love in one another, Leather & Lark takes some of the side characters and forces them into a tense, high stakes relationship to protect their loved ones. Where the Butcher and Blackbird were a little demented, smart and pretty much open books, you’re met with mystery and lots of traumatic past secrets buried deep under the skin of our Leather & Lark main characters. Sloan’s(blackbird) best friend Lark is a professional musician who seemingly has become a little unhinged and found pleasure in ridding the world of those that would take advantage of the vulnerable and helpless as she once was. No one knows her secret, not her best friend or her extremely rich and well connected family. Lachlan Kane (Butcher’s brother) runs a leather workshop and is stuck in a contract as a cleaner/assassin for the psychopathic man responsible for bailing the Kane boys out of trouble at a young age when he helped cover up the murder of their father. He struggles daily to be free of his debt which Lark indirectly manages to increase. There is a ton of push and pull and lots of sexual tension between these two drastically different characters. Every chapter is different and you discover something new to learn who they really are at their core and watch as they slowly fall into a lust filled, possessive love. When Lark’s family starts getting picked off and her parents start to point fingers toward the Kane brothers, her matriarch aunt proposes she and Lachlan marry to protect their loved ones from her parent’s scrutiny. Little did they know they’d actually end up wanting to be with each other. As with anyone living in close proximity to one another you develop a familiar routine and start to get used to the presence of the other. Forced proximity, enemy to lovers, i’m not sure if those tropes cover the gist of this relationship. The spicy scenes are incredible but it takes a gradual build with bits and pieces of progress here and there before the earth shattering climax of these to debut. Weaver puts together some of the best developed and interesting characters in her novels. Lark, a sociopathic, glitter obsessed, broken and beautiful woman and Lachlan, a beast of a man with a stoic personality and a teddy bear heart is a dynamic I couldn’t have imagined on my own. Just like with Butcher & Blackbird, I finished Leather & Lark and I wanted more. I’m looking forward to the third book in this series. As a bonus, Weaver puts together a by chapter playlist for the reader that really enhances the reading experience. You get to put music to the emotions and scene being laid out before you and I’ve absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. Highly recommended read if you’re into books you won’t want to put down that might break your heart and make you gush by the end.

I swore this book wasn't going to top Butcher and Blackbird for me. Damn it, I was so very wrong. As much as I loved Sloane and Rowan, I fell so much harder for Lach and Lark. I loved not only getting a sneek peek of Sloane and Rowans' future but really a complete immersion into the continuation of their stories and the strengthening of their found family. I got to watch them evolve around their best friends and their family. To lend themselves to the happily ever after of another Kane couple. That alone was beauty in of itself and worthy of a read. However, that was just the tip of the Kane/Brynne Weaver dynasty. Butcher and Blackbird had a chef's kiss humor level. Leather and Lark had me cackling out loud and kicking my feet throughout. I don't know if I found myself crying or laughing most often, but it seemed to go hand in hand. It was a restorative cathartic type of cry, dug from the depths of the traumas, darkness, and hurts and spit shined into a brave and healing journey. I adored watching these two tear down their walls, be truly vulnerable and wholly themselves, love and be loved despite and because of their pain and darkness, and jump! I'm more in love with Brynne just knowing that she had to have put so much of herself into this one. You can't make up this level of depravity and provide all of the feelings without a level of introspection and rawness. Thank you for this novel. It felt really important, and it healed something in me.

Leather & Lark was a really fun follow-up, but it didn’t quite hit the same highs for me as the first book. Lachlan’s broody, tortured energy? Absolutely ate that up. And Lark was such a standout FMC — so much more layered than the bright, bubbly persona everyone sees. She’s loyal to her core, quietly battling her own demons, and I loved getting to see that deeper, more vulnerable side of her. Their dynamic worked really well for me: sharp banter, emotional moments, and that slow unraveling of feelings that felt very true to their characters. My only real issue was the ending. After all that build-up, it felt a little rushed and too neatly wrapped up. I wanted more payoff, more breathing room to really sit in the aftermath.

Quality of the book is excellent!

Secondo capitolo di questa saga molto bello, ma secondo me non all’altezza del primo. Resta comunque una lettura molto piacevole. Legge bene i trigger warning prima di cominciare questo libro.

Leather & Lark is an absolute triumph and a must-read for anyone who loved Butcher & Blackbird. Brynne Weaver has a brilliant way of mixing dark, gritty themes with incredible humour and heart. This story follows Lachlan and Lark, and their "marriage of convenience" is handled perfectly. The chemistry between them is electric from the very first page, and I loved how their relationship shifted from tense bickering to a deep, fierce loyalty. It is rare to find a book that makes you laugh out loud while also keeping you on the edge of your seat, but this story manages it effortlessly. The pacing of the novel is spot on, and I found myself flying through the chapters because the plot was so engaging. Lachlan is such a standout character—charming, witty, and incredibly protective—while Lark is strong and relatable. The dark elements are intense, but they never overshadow the emotional growth of the characters. Overall, this is a fantastic sequel that feels even more personal and high-stakes than the first. If you want a romance that is twisty, funny, and deeply romantic, you really cannot go wrong with this one!

"Leather and Lark" by Brynne Weaver had me hooked from the first page! After devouring *Butcher and Blackbird,* I just knew this one would be another hit, and it did not disappoint. While the pacing was a bit slower than the first book, it gave me the perfect opportunity to really dive into the characters and watch their development unfold in such a satisfying way. The storyline had that familiar edge I loved in the first book, yet it brought something new and exciting to the table. Now, let’s talk about Lachlan Kane—this man is definitely on my list of fictional husbands. He’s so rough around the edges, and I love every bit of it. There’s just something about him that pulls you in and refuses to let go. And let me tell you, I listened to the audiobook too, and when I say it was hot…🥵🥵🥵 It took the whole experience to another level! If you were a fan of *Butcher and Blackbird,* *Leather and Lark* is a must-read. It’s got all the intensity, character depth, and just the right amount of steam to keep you hooked. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this one!

I loved this book. I love BW sense of humour. I love the characters—I relate in many ways to Lark (not in the multiple deleter skills). I will read the third book in this trilogy as soon as it comes out. Whatever she writes I’ll buy because her storytelling and writing is excellent